Severe depression, (major depressive disorder) is a serious and treatable illness that negatively affects our mood, mental, and physical domains. Severe depression is unrelated to the colloquial state of being depressed and is a type of disease that completely and in every aspect separates itself from these moods. When left untreated, severe depression paralyzes a person's life. Severe depression leads to a constant state of sadness and an inability to enjoy life. Severe depression causes a person's mood to change constantly. When ignored, this illness also negatively affects him physically. Individuals experiencing depression have difficulty fulfilling their duties in their social lives. The treatment of severe depression (major depressive disorder) is carried out by a psychiatry specialist. The psychiatry specialist decides on the treatment to be applied according to the person's depression status.
What is Severe Depression?
Severe depression (major depressive disorder) is a mood disorder that occurs as a result of the sadness, stress, and distress we experience negatively impacting our mood. Severe depression causes constant unhappiness and an inability to enjoy pleasurable situations. Certain physical and psychological changes can be observed in individuals experiencing severe depression. These individuals have difficulty fulfilling their duties in their work and social lives. Another factor that triggers the onset of the disease is chemical imbalances occurring in different regions of the brain. Although severe depression negatively affects individuals, it is a treatable medical condition.
What are the Causes of Severe Depression?
It is not very healthy to attribute severe depression to a single cause. The adversities experienced by the individual and psychological factors can cause severe depression. The causes of severe depression can be examined in three groups: biological, psycho-social, and genetic.
Biological Causes: There are hormones such as norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain. According to research, it has been proven that these hormones are related to depression.
Psycho-Social Causes: It has been observed that individuals who are under constant stress in their daily lives are more prone to experiencing depression. Traumas experienced at a young age increase the likelihood of falling into depression in later years. Similarly, the failure to meet emotional needs such as being loved, belonging, feeling secure, and being accepted at a young age lays the groundwork for falling into depression in later years.
Genetic Causes: Depression is frequently seen in the first-degree relatives of severe depression patients. The reason for this is that individuals experiencing depression reflect their problems onto their relatives.
What are the Symptoms of Severe Depression?
Severe depression first manifests with physical, psychological, and mental symptoms. Not enjoying life and being unable to perform routine tasks are among the most prominent features of the disease. As examples of severe depression symptoms, we can list the following situations.
- The individual feels unhappy and restless. Feelings of guilt and worthlessness are observed.
- Apathy begins in every area of daily life.
- Individuals enter a depressed mood throughout the day, especially when they wake up.
- He disrupts his daily tasks due to experiencing advanced levels of reluctance and fatigue.
- The individual becomes unable to enjoy life.
- He has difficulty motivating himself. Therefore, he experiences concentration problems in setting and implementing goals for the future.
- Weight loss is observed due to eating and drinking disorders. If the person tends to overeat, weight gain occurs.
- Clouding of the mind, lack of concentration, and panic attack situations increase.
- Internal distress, anxiety disorders, and feelings of tension may emerge. There may be crying spells. Some patients, on the other hand, complain of being unable to cry.
- An excessive desire to sleep and difficulty waking up in the mornings are experienced very frequently. Insomnia and difficulty falling asleep may be experienced.
- The individual's confidence in himself and his surroundings decreases. He may feel lonely.
- He begins to distance himself from his social circle.
- His motivation drops, his energy decreases, and he tires very quickly.
- Along with severe depression, stomach and intestinal problems are experienced by him.
- He constantly begins to live in the past.
- Sexual reluctance occurs.
- The individual experiencing severe depression may harm himself.
- Thoughts of death or suicide become more frequent.
Severe depression can occur at any age, from childhood to old age. Its incidence rate is more common in women. Individuals who experience depression once can be afflicted with depression again in their later years.
How is Severe Depression Diagnosed?
For a person to be diagnosed with severe depression, he must first be evaluated by a specialist.
It is required that at least 5 of the items listed below are present in the person and occur throughout the day for a period of at least 15 days.
- Depressed mood disorder
- Loss of pleasure, onset of apathy - decreased desire
- Decreased or increased eating and drinking
- Lack of sleep or a desire to sleep too much
- Slowing of thought and physical activities
- Lack of energy, exhaustion
- Feeling of worthlessness and guilt
- Loss of function and suicidal tendency occur.
- It cannot be explained by another mental illness.
- The person does not experience manic or hypomanic episodes.
What is the Treatment for Severe Depression?
Severe depression, (major depressive disorder) is not an illness that can be treated without getting support from a specialist. To keep the symptoms of this illness under control, antidepressant medications are recommended to the person by the specialist. Psychotherapy or talk therapy may also be recommended to observe his mood. Additionally, the hypnosis method can be used as depression treatment methods in addition to these applications.
Sometimes, in addition to antidepressants, certain medications can be more effective in treating the disease. Other treatment methods are also available for clinical depression. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can be used when medications do not show their effect or when symptoms are significant. Antidepressants used regularly begin to show their effect after 2-3 weeks.
Another method effective in the treatment of severe depression is for him to pay attention to his nutrition. Alongside nutrition, playing sports keeps the individual fit and positively affects his mood. If he tries to manage his stress consciously and maintains his social relationships, he will regain his health faster. In addition to professional treatment, individuals can help themselves by using these self-care methods.